Method for providing a broadband infrastructure in a building by means of optical fibres

ABSTRACT

A system and method for the transmission of optical signals via optical fibres in a building provided with a system of conduits for electric wires. The optical fibers are ducted through the same conduits as the electric wires. The optical fibres are fitted to the same wall or ceiling terminals as the electric wires. The terminals can comprise connectors to which the optical fibers are fitted, or optical transceivers. The terminals can also comprise electrically supplied modules for amplifying, processing, routing or converting the optical signals. Monitoring, controlling, processing etc. of the optical signals can be done in a central element, in the proximity of a central module for monitoring etc. the electric energy in the building.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing a broadband infrastructure in a building by means of optical fibres for the transmission of optical signals, which building is provided with a system of conduits for ducting electric wires for the transfer of electric energy.

[0002] The invention further relates to a system for the transmission of optical signals via optical fibers in a building, which building is provided with a system of conduits for enveloping electric wires for the transfer of electric energy.

[0003] “Fibre To The Office” (FTTO) and “Fibre To The Home” (FTTH), increase of the number of PCs etc. and increase of broadband applications (Internet, multimedia, etc.) for application in offices and private situations induce a need for the application of optical fibres within buildings, houses, etc. In house-construction, normally no special facilities—cable ducts, etc.—are provided for the installation and maintenance of a computer network. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for installing and maintaining a network of optical fibres throughout the building without special constructional interventions. The invention is applicable in both new and existing buildings.

THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention, it is presently proposed to duct the optical fibres through the same conduits as the wires of the electric installation. In new houses to be built, the electric wires and optical fibres will preferably be pushed, pulled or blown simultaneously into the conduits. In existing houses —where the electric wires have already been installed—the optical fibres, if possible, will be added to the wiring already present. Where this is not possible, the electric wiring will possibly have to be removed first to be subsequently re-introduced together with the optical fibre(s) to be added. In the design of an in-house network based on this method (use of fibre), it is also possible to project paths that do not run through electric conduits (for instance plastic fibre along a skirting-board).

[0005] Preferably, the fibres are fitted to the same terminals as those to which the electric wires are fitted, so that those terminals, the wall sockets and light connections, at the same time serve as interface to and from the PCs etc. In the system according to the invention, therefore, the fibres—after installation—are enveloped by the same conduits as the electric wires.

[0006] Accordingly, the system of the invention preferably comprises wall or ceiling terminals to which both the electric wires and the optical fibres are fitted. The terminals can comprise one or more connectors to which an optical fibre is fitted and to which a matching counter-connector can be connected. In this way, a PC—or other information processor—can be connected with the optical home network and, via that optical network, with PCs etc. in the rest of the house or the building or, via an interface, with a public network.

[0007] Another option is for the terminals to comprise an optical transceiver to which an optical fiber is fitted. An optical transceiver is herein understood to mean an element by which the light signals (e.g. infrared) supplied by the optical fiber are optically radiated to its surroundings and by which, in the opposite direction, light signals can be received and presented to the optical fiber. Communication with the PCs etc. in the space where the terminals are, proceeds in a noncontact manner via optical (IR) transmitters and receivers in the PCs etc. The transmitter and receiver, respectively, of the wall/ceiling terminal can comprise—as known per se—an optical lens and/or an optical reflector. Since the optical fibers are fitted to the same terminals as those to which the electric wires have been fitted, this combination affords a synergetic possibility of providing the terminals with electrically supplied amplification means for amplifying the optical signals.

[0008] If it is necessary to convert the optical signals in any way, that possibility is also afforded by the terminals. Thus, the terminals can comprise electrically supplied conversion means for converting the optical signals transmitted and received, respectively, via those terminals. Thus, it is possible for the conversion means to convert the optical signals to electrical signals and vice versa, with the electrical signals being presented to, or taken from, electrical connectors which are comprised by the terminals and to which a matching counter-connector can be connected. This O/E converter incorporated into the terminal affords the possibility of connecting PCs in the electric domain with the—optical—home network and with each other.

[0009] Also, the terminal can comprise processing or routing means for processing and/or routing the signals transferred via the optical fibres. Such processing or routing means too can be simply supplied, in the terminal, from the electricity grid. Normally, the electric wires per building, or per section of the building, meet in a central unit—switchboard—for monitoring and/or controlling the electric energy transferred via the electric wires, in the building or section thereof. As a logical extension of the system according to the invention, the system also comprises a central element for monitoring, processing and/or controlling the information transferred via the optical fibres, in the building or section thereof. Such central element can be formed, for instance, by a central computer or home network server, which, at the central location also accommodating the electric switchboard and possibly the telecommunication connection (the “meter cupboard”), can then be formed integrally with the other facilities, electricity, telecommunication. Such an arrangement also affords practical possibilities of “telemetering” electricity, gas, etc.

[0010] The present method can be seen as a supplement to other methods for laying out an in-house infrastructure. The method is cheaper than installing a separate conduit system. Compared with the use of radio waves, this method does not involve any risk of interference and disturbance of other equipment (e.g. in hospitals) or possible health hazards of radio waves. The use of light signals (e.g. infrared) can be limited to specific spaces, which can be an advantage.

IMPLEMENTATION

[0011]FIG. 1 schematically shows the conduit system 7 of a conventional electric installation in a building 1. The building 1 is connected via cables 2 and 3 to the public electricity grid and communication/media network, respectively. The latter network comprises an optical fibre (“Fibre To The Office” (FTTO) and “Fibre To The Home” (FTTH)) enabling broadband transmission. From a central distribution point 4, at least one conduit 7 passes to a central junction box 5 present in each space and mounted in the ceiling. The central junction box 5 constitutes the base terminal for connecting lighting fixtures etc. and for further distributing the electric energy in the room, via conduits passing to different wall sockets 6 and any further ceiling outlets, for further lighting fixtures. Through the conduits 7 pass electric wires 8 which have been pulled, pushed or blown into the conduits.

[0012] According to the invention, the optical fibres are ducted from the distribution point 4 through the same conduits 7 as the electric wires. Further, the optical fibres are fitted to the same ceiling outlets 5 and wall outlets 6 as those to which the electric wires are fitted. It is noted that the terminals are understood to be constituted by the wall and ceiling outlets 5 and 6, possibly along with any components connected therewith, such as (lighting) fixtures, wall sockets, switches, etc. Hereinbelow, reference will be made to the terminals 5 and 6, which, accordingly, may or may not—depending on specific designs that may be given to them by different manufacturers—comprise components mounted thereon or thereto.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a ceiling terminal 5. Via the conduits 7, the electric wires 8 are supplied, which, with the aid of wire connectors 9, are connected to each other and to, for instance, a lighting fixture. In addition to the wires 8, the conduits 7 also duct optical fibers, which have preferably been pulled into the conduits together with the electric wires. The optical fibres can be connected to each other and to an optical transceiver (transmitter/receiver) 11. The transceiver 11 normally comprises a lens, sometimes a reflector, with which, on the one hand, IR light signals supplied by the optical fibre are radiated to the respective space, and with which, on the other hand, IR light signals from, for instance, equipment disposed in that space are received. In other words, the terminal 5 comprises an IR port, known per se.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a wall terminal 6, to which the electric wires 8 and optical fibre 10 supplied through the conduit 7 are connected, that is, the fibre 10 to an optical transceiver 11 and the wires 8 to an electrical wall plug 12. FIG. 4 shows the same wall terminal 6, though with the optical transceiver 11 replaced by an optical connector 13 to which the optical fiber 10 is fitted and to which a PC etc. can be connected via a matching counter-connector 14 and an optical cable 15.

[0015]FIG. 5 shows the same wall terminal 6, provided with a transceiver 11, but additionally provided with a built-in electrically supplied optical amplifier 16, for amplifying the optical signals exchanged via the transceiver 11. The amplifier 16 is supplied from the electricity grid via electric supply wires 8 a.

[0016]FIG. 6 shows a wall terminal 6, provided with an electrical connector 23 to which a PC etc. can be connected via a matching counter-connector 24 and an electric cable 25. Conversion of the optical signals—transferred by the optical fibre 10—into electrical signals—transferred by the connectors 23 and 24 and the cable 25 to and from the PC etc.—takes place in an E/O converter 26 which is incorporated into the terminal 6 and which draws its electric supply via the electric wires 8, likewise fitted in that same terminal 6. By installing an E/O converter 23, PCs etc. which do not possess an optical interface can still communicate via the optical home net. It is noted that instead of the modules 16 and 26 shown, other—electrically supplied—modules can be installed in the terminals 5 or 6, for instance processing or routing modules (“domestic routers”) for processing and/or routing the signals transferred via the optical fibres.

[0017]FIG. 7 shows a further elaboration of the central power point 4 shown in FIG. 1. The electric wires 8 meet in a central element 17—the central switchboard—where the electric energy distributed via the electric wires in the building, in particular power consumption and safety (earth leakage etc.), is monitored. In the same space—the “meter cupboard”—there is also a central element 18 which monitors, processes and/or controls the optical signals to and from the building 1 via the optical cable 3. The central element can comprise, for instance, a central home computer or home server via which telecommunication, multimedia exchange (internet, video, etc.) with the outside world proceed and which, on the other hand, provides for network management etc within the building. If desired, the telecommunication section can be concentrated in a telecommunication home exchange 19. The optical fibres 10 of the home network are connected via a connection module 20 to the housing of the electrical switchboard 17, such that the optical fibers 10, together with the electric wires 8, can be ducted via the conduits 7 to the different terminals 5 and 6 in the building, where they can be connected to the different PCs etc., via the IR transceivers 11 and the connectors 13, 23, 14, 24, respectively. 

1. A method for providing a broadband infrastructure in a building (1) by means of optical fibres (10) for the transmission of optical signals, which building is provided with a system of conduits (7) for ducting electric wires (8) for the transfer of electric energy, characterized in that the optical fibers are ducted through the same conduits as said electric wires.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electric wires are fitted to wall or ceiling terminals (5, 6), characterized in that the fibers are also fitted to said same terminals.
 3. A system for the transmission of optical signals via optical fibers (10) in a building (1), which building is provided with a system of conduits (7) for enveloping electric wires (8) for the transfer of electric energy, characterized in that the optical fibers are enveloped by the same conduits as said electric wires.
 4. A system according to claim 3, comprising wall or ceiling terminals (5, 6) to which the electric wires are fitted, characterized in that the optical fibers are also fitted to said same terminals.
 5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminals comprise a connector (13) to which an optical fibre is fitted and to which a matching counter-connector (14) can be connected.
 6. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminals comprise an optical transmitter (11) to which an optical fiber has been fitted.
 7. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminals comprise an optical receiver (11) to which an optical fiber has been fitted.
 8. A system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the transmitter and receiver, respectively, comprises an optical lens.
 9. A system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the transmitter and receiver, respectively, comprises an optical reflector.
 10. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminal comprises electrically supplied amplifying means (16, 26) for amplifying the optical signals.
 11. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminal comprises electrically supplied conversion means (16, 26) for converting the optical signals transmitted or received, respectively.
 12. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that the conversion means convert the optical signals to electrical signals and vice versa, which electrical signals are presented to or taken from electrical connectors which are comprised by the terminals and to which a matching counter-connector can be connected.
 13. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminal comprises processing or routing means (16, 26) for processing and/or routing the signals transferred via the optical fibers.
 14. A system according to claim 3, wherein the electric wires per building, or per section of the building, meet in a central element (17) for monitoring and/or controlling the electric energy transferred via the electric wires in the building, or section of the building, characterized by a central element (18) for monitoring, processing and/or controlling the information transferred via the optical fibers, in the building, or section of the building. 